Against the Current

Every place in the world carries a story of its own.

People tell stories through the lives they live. Trees tell theirs through the rings hidden beneath their bark. Rivers carve their history into stone, while kingdoms leave theirs upon the pages of history for future generations to remember.

The Kingdom of Madrerra was no different.

It had witnessed the rise of heroes, the fall of kings, decades of peace, and the return of despair. Every castle wall, every narrow street, and every weathered monument carried memories of those who had come before. Some stories were celebrated. Others had long since faded into silence.

And among those forgotten stories walked someone who had once helped shape the kingdom itself.

Yolina quietly entered the capital wearing the attire history remembered as that of the Great Blue Mage. A long azure coat concealed the outline of her body, while a white porcelain mask hid every trace of her face. Even her long silver-blue hair disappeared beneath the hood draped over her head, making it almost impossible for anyone to realize that the legendary Blue Mage had always been a woman.

Wrapped around her left wrist was an iron bracelet, one personally given to her by Princess Teodosia before she had left the temple. Inside the bracelet, she could faintly sense liquid shifting with every movement of her hand. She already knew it contained holy water, though she still found herself wondering why such a thing had become necessary.

Hidden comfortably beneath the folds of her cloak, Raplet lazily floated upside down while happily nibbling on a ripe pear, entirely unconcerned by the crowd surrounding them.

As Yolina passed through the streets, countless citizens stopped what they were doing to watch her. Merchants fell silent. Children stared with sparkling eyes. Even elderly men and women lowered their heads respectfully as the Blue Mage walked by.

To them, the legendary mage had returned.

The same hero who had once stood beside the Freemansory during the battle against the Demon Lord.

The same mysterious figure whose face no one had ever seen.

Yolina acknowledged none of them.

Behind the expressionless mask, her thoughts were occupied by something entirely different. She had never enjoyed being admired. The disguise existed not to inspire people, but to protect herself. As long as everyone continued believing the Blue Mage was nothing more than a faceless legend, perhaps even a man, they would never search for the lonely woman named Yolina hiding beneath the mask.

The palace gates slowly opened before her.

Rows of royal knights stood at attention, their polished armor gleaming beneath the afternoon sunlight. None of them spoke. Instead, they lowered their heads as she passed between them before one of Princess Teodosia’s senior advisers stepped forward.

"Sir Blue Mage," he said respectfully. "Her Highness has been expecting your arrival. If you would please follow me."

Yolina gave only a silent nod.

The adviser guided her through a maze of marble corridors until they finally reached the royal council chamber. Princess Teodosia was already waiting inside.

As soon as Yolina entered, Teodosia dismissed every servant and adviser present.

"Leave us."

The room emptied without question.

Once the heavy doors were closed, Teodosia personally walked around the chamber, drawing every curtain shut until sunlight no longer reached the room. Only after confirming they were completely alone did she smile.

"You may remove it now."

Yolina slowly lifted the porcelain mask from her face before lowering her hood.

Long twin-tailed silver-blue hair spilled over her shoulders, and almost immediately Raplet poked his head out from beneath her cloak, still chewing on the last bite of his pear as though nothing unusual had happened.

Teodosia couldn’t help smiling.

"I’m glad you accepted my request."

Yolina gently placed the mask upon the table.

"I said I would help. I have no intention of breaking that promise."

She looked directly at the princess.

"Now tell me… who are the companions you’ve chosen?"

Teodosia folded her hands together.

"Before I introduce them, there’s something you need to know about the Dungeon of Prufundu."

Yolina remained calm.

"I already know what lies beneath that dungeon."

"I’m afraid you know the dungeon as it existed one hundred and twenty-seven years ago."

That answer immediately caught Yolina’s attention.

Teodosia walked toward a large map spread across the council table.

"Everything has changed."

She traced a finger across the illustration of the dungeon.

"Aside from the monsters that have begun appearing, the dungeon itself no longer remains stable. Every sunrise it reconstructs itself. Corridors vanish. Entire chambers change places. Paths that existed yesterday may no longer exist today."

Yolina quietly listened.

"And that isn’t the strangest part," Teodosia continued. "Each day the dungeon only permits a certain number of people to enter. Sometimes only one person may pass through its gates. Other times… as many as ten."

Yolina frowned slightly.

"So the dungeon itself chooses."

"We don’t know how."

"Our knights have attempted countless expeditions, but every change catches them unprepared. Entire parties have disappeared before reaching the lower floors."

Yolina considered the information in silence before another thought entered her mind.

"There is something else I’ve noticed."

Teodosia tilted her head.

"What is it?"

"The bracelets."

She raised her own wrist.

"Everyone inside the palace is wearing one. The guards. Your advisers."

"…Even you."

Teodosia smiled.

"I was wondering when you’d ask."

She gently tapped the bracelet around her wrist.

"Since magic disappeared, identifying demons has become almost impossible. They can disguise themselves perfectly as humans. Villages have been destroyed because no one realized a demon had been living among them until it was too late."

She gave a small laugh.

"So I designed these."

Yolina examined the bracelet more carefully.

"Holy water."

"Exactly."

"The bracelet constantly stores consecrated water. Demons find prolonged contact with it unbearable. If one attempts to disguise itself while wearing one, the holy water reacts slowly."

Yolina nodded in quiet admiration.

"…An elegant solution."

Teodosia smiled proudly.

"I’ll admit, I was rather pleased when Father approved the idea."

Yolina’s gaze shifted toward the bracelet on the princess’s own wrist.

"…Yours is different."

Teodosia blinked.

"You noticed?"

"I don’t sense any holy water inside it."

The princess looked at her bracelet before giving a helpless smile.

"It was damaged during a demon attack several months ago. It still functions well enough to prove I’m human, but the seal isn’t perfect anymore."

Yolina accepted the explanation, though a faint uneasiness lingered somewhere in the back of her mind.

Choosing not to dwell on it, she quietly asked,

"How is your father?"

For the first time since the conversation had begun, Teodosia’s cheerful smile faltered.

"He… is alive."

She lowered her eyes.

"But he has yet to awaken."

"The monster that attacked him left wounds our physicians still cannot explain."

Silence briefly settled between them.

Yolina decided not to press further.

"After the Demon Lord’s defeat… this kingdom enjoyed nearly a century of peace."

Teodosia nodded.

"It truly did."

"Demons vanished almost entirely. Most dangers came from ordinary monsters, bandits, or mercenaries."

"But everything changed the day the gate to Prufundu opened."

"And the demons returned."

Yolina quietly folded her arms.

"…Perhaps they were waiting."

"It is one of several possibilities," Teodosia admitted. "Whatever the truth may be, the answer almost certainly lies somewhere beneath Prufundu."

She smiled once more.

"Now… shall we return to the matter of your companions?"

Yolina gave a small nod.

"I’m listening."

"You won’t be entering the dungeon alone."

Teodosia unfolded another document across the table.

"The six accompanying you are the only people to have successfully completed the Arthurian Trial."

"The Arthurian Trial?"

"It was founded after your disappearance," Teodosia explained. "Six legendary heroes from six different nations created it to search for those worthy of inheriting their ideals. Only individuals possessing courage, compassion, integrity, and an unbreakable resolve are recognized as true Arthurians."

She began reading the names.

"Leopold the Iron Blood."

"Isamu the Wind Wanderer."

"Victoire the Brave Arisen."

"Theodore, Honor of Life."

"William, Justice Beyond."

She paused.

"And Albert… Freedom of Minds."

Yolina’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly.

Only for an instant.

She quickly composed herself before Teodosia could notice.

"I understand."

"The first is Artemisia, an archer from the Verde Forest Elf Tribe."

"The second is Ivo, a bard."

"The third is Zenobio, another archer, though he belongs to the Nero Forest Dark Elf Tribe."

"The fourth is Ildegonda, from the Red Mountain Pugilist Tribe."
"The fifth is Volfango Ottilia, a beastfolk warrior."

Yolina smiled faintly.

"Two elves from opposing tribes?"

"They’ve agreed to set aside their differences."

"I certainly hope so."

"But…" Yolina asked, "why include a bard? Without magic, what role can he fulfill?"

Teodosia chuckled.

"I was just about to explain before you interrupted me."

She continued,

"The six founders each entrusted fragments of their power to chosen successors. During the Arthurian Trial, those blessings judge whether a challenger possesses the qualities worthy of inheriting them. So all six of them acquired the Crest of Heroismo."

"And the sixth?"

Teodosia looked down at the final name.

"Leonardo Roman."

Yolina stared.

"…I’m sorry, I must have misheard you."

Teodosia blinked.

"No."

She glanced back at the parchment.

"It says Leonardo Roman."

Yolina looked genuinely unconvinced.

"…Perhaps you should borrow a pair of spectacles."

The princess laughed.

"I assure you, my eyesight is perfectly fine. It says Leonardo Roman."

Yolina slowly rubbed her forehead.

"…You’re telling me that reckless child passed the Arthurian Trial?"

"He didn’t simply pass."

Teodosia smiled warmly.

"He was considered one of its finest candidates. The bravest, the kindest and above all one of the purest hearts we’ve ever seen."

Yolina sighed.

"…The pure heart part I can believe.But the strongest?"

Teodosia suddenly tilted her head.

"…Wait."

A playful smile spread across her face.

"You’re the mysterious Ever Sea girl."

Yolina blinked.

"…Excuse me?"

"I spoke with Leonardo."

"He told me about the woman who sacrificed herself fighting the Jörmungandr."

Her smile softened.

"He still blames himself for failing to save you."

Yolina immediately straightened.

"Princess. My identity must remain secret. It is troublesome enough that he will be joining this expedition. I cannot allow him to discover who I truly am."

Teodosia smiled knowingly.

"You could have simply come to the palace as Yolina.“

"…That would require getting to know people. Also he has witnessed me dying in front of him. Despite his gullible personality he will discover my true identity.“

There was genuine reluctance in Yolina’s voice.

"And I would rather avoid that."

The princess quietly studied her for several moments.

"You may continue hiding behind the Blue Mage if that gives you peace of mind."

She stood from her chair.

"But you cannot hide from your companions forever."

She walked toward the chamber doors before speaking one final time.

"Seven days from now, your party will depart for the village of Menzoga. You’ll spend one night there before entering the Dungeon of Prufundu."

Her hand rested upon the door.

"And Lady Yolina…"

She looked back over her shoulder.

"…One day, you’ll have to stop running from your past. Even if it takes you another hundred years."

The doors quietly closed behind her.

Silence returned to the chamber.

Yolina slowly walked toward the tall window overlooking the capital. Below, the kingdom continued bustling with ordinary life, completely unaware that the woman standing there had once helped save it.

Raplet floated beside her.

"…Are you alright?"

For a long while, Yolina simply watched the people walking through the streets below.

Only then did she answer.

"…I’m fine."

Yet even she knew…

That wasn’t entirely true.